Sunday, August 13, 2017

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Prior to the start of preseason football drills on Aug. 2, the consensus among the S.C. State defensive staff was that the front line would be the strength of the Bulldog defense in 2017. Nearly two weeks later, and after about 10 practices, that opinion has not changed.

But another group receiving a lot of praise is the S.C. State linebackers who, throughout camp, have demonstrated they are not very far behind the defensive line in talent and expectations. Two players in last year’s starting rotation – Tyler Smith and Shaquan Brock – have graduated and will be missed. But the staff is not expecting any drop-off in performance or execution.

“Between the linebackers and the defensive front,” they make up the strength of our football team this year,” Bulldogs head coach Buddy Pough said. “If our linebackers play up to their potential, we should be pretty good overall on defense and give our opponents a little something to think about.

“The depth of the group is still being developed, but we expect this position to play at a very high level.”CONTINUE READING